American Community Survey (ACS)

OVERVIEW

The American Community Survey collects information about the current economic, housing, and social circumstances in the United States. At full implementation, the staff of 35 SFRs and 275 FRs will collect information in every county in our region. As part of the reengineering of the Decennial Census, the ACS has replaced the Census "long form" and provide data more frequently than once every 10 years.

PURPOSE

The Census Bureau developed the American Community Survey to provide critical economic, social, demographic, and housing information about the communities in the United States on an annual basis rather than every 10 years.

The Census Bureau mailed the ACS to a sample of households in all 3,233 U.S. counties each month. No address will receive the survey more often than once every five years.

The ACS asks questions that are designed to manage or evaluate government programs. Ultimately, the public benefits by participating in the ACS. They provide government agencies with updated information, which allows them to respond to the needs of the communities.

SURVEY STATISTICS

Interview Period:

Data collection begins on the first of each month and continues through the end of the month.

Coverage Area:

All of Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.